Davis The Daddy
Chapter 7:
Musetta's waltz filled the hotel room, that was filled with newspapers.
"Hello?" Roger picked up his ringing cell phone.
"Hey Rog." Mark said.
"Hey what's up?"
"Me and Collins just wanted to know if you wanted to hang out tonight over here."
"Uh no man sorry I can't. I've got a date with Mimi tonight." Roger smiled just thinking about it, and even Mark smiled, happy that things were going good for his friends.
"Oh wow that's awesome. How about tomorrow?"
"Spending the day with Sophie. Without Mimi, I'm kind of nervous." Roger admitted.
"Don't be, she loves you." Roger sighed at Mark's response. "She does."
"I guess."
"Well when your social schedule isn't so packed maybe you should sign up for a self esteem enhancing course." Mark said sarcastically, which made Roger laugh.
"Well when my social schedule isn't so packed I'll be looking for apartments and jobs."
"Nice. You find anything good?" Mark asked.
"I applied at some music stores and schools, and some restaurants, and some bars, and some stores."
"That's good, you're gonna get one of them Rog don't worry. How about a place?"
"These apartments around here are just so expensive. I don't know what I'm gonna do."
"You could room with us for a while. It'd be nice, like old times." Mark said in a genuine voice.
"Well I actually have something else in mind, but I don't want it to seem like I'm only doing it for a place you know? Um I wanna ask Mimi again, you know to marry me. I know it's really soon, and really rushed, but I'm really sure that I love her more than I did last time and that I'm really ready for this." Roger said as he ran a comb through his hair.
"I think you are too. Let me know if you need help, or anything." Mark said.
"I'll call you tomorrow night, I might have dinner with them but I'm not sure so…"
"Don't worry about it Rog, have fun." Mark replied.
"Thanks man." Roger said before hanging up the phone. He quickly ran his hand through his hair and looked himself up and down. He looked good, in a black suit jacket, jeans and button down shirt. He slipped his phone and keys in his pocket and walked out of the hotel, hoping he would only have to stay here a few more weeks max. Roger walked down the busy streets, finding himself not being as used to maneuvering them as he used to be some years ago. He walked passed a jewelry store and slowed down as he walked past, examining the rings in the window. Roger took a deep breath and kept on walking, all the way to Mimi's apartment.
Mimi was in the bedroom putting the finishing touch of perfume on her body when there was a knock at the door. She skipped over to it and swung it open with a broad grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Hey!" She said peppily and diving into a loving kiss. Roger was slightly surprised and gently pulled away.
"Isn't Soph still h..?" He began to ask
"Nope, Mo and Jo picked her up a few minutes ago." Mimi said kissing him again. He touched her hips and gently moved them inside closing the door.
"You look beautiful." He whispered. She was wearing a black sleeveless dress, black stilettos, her hair was in a side pony tail, and her face was perfectly made up.
"Thanks."
"You ready?" Roger asked. Mimi nodded, and grabbed her wallet, keys and phone and they headed out the door and began walking down the street, linking her arm with Roger's. "So what did you guys do today?" Roger asked while they walked.
"Mm I bought her a new coloring book so she was pretty occupied with that and then made me help her pick an outfit to wear to the movies with Maureen and Joanne later. Pretty boring, how about you?" Roger sighed
"Job hunting." Mimi chuckled.
"Where?"
"Everywhere in this freaking city." Roger replied laughing a little bit too. "I'm not even kidding, I applied at stores and bars and restaurants and music schools."
"At least one of them has got to take you Rog. Especially a music school, you'd be great at that. You're talented, and you're good with Soph so you'd be good with other kids."
"I guess."
"Rog you need some self esteem." Mimi said playfully, Roger laughed.
"That's exactly what Mark said."
"Me and Mark are smarter than we look." Mimi replied rubbing her hand on his back. They walked into the "BJ's Steakhouse" and got seated. A waitress came over and took their drink orders and brought them over. Roger reached across the table to hold her hand and gently stroked her palm and wrist with his thumb. They kept up a casual chat about things. "What are you thinking about doing with Sophie tomorrow?" Mimi asked.
"Go to the park, get some ice cream, maybe a trip to FAO Schwartz…." Roger began
"Don't you be bringing her home with some giant stuffed giraffe." Mimi said warningly but smiling, Roger laughed.
"Well I can't say no when she has your eyes!" He said in between laughs as she giggled.
"And I can't say no to paying for half of the check because I've been here and this place is expensive." She said. Roger pouted
"No Mi…"
"We will split it!"
"We'll see about that." Roger said playfully, cocking an eyebrow.
"You challenging me?" Mimi asked. Roger nodded squinting at her. They both chuckled. They ordered their food and continued chatting until the waitress bought it over.
"Mhmm this is good." Roger said, a mouth full of prime rib. "But I missed your cooking." He added after he swallowed.
"Mhmm who wouldn't? I've gotten better too."
"I'll be the judge of that." Roger said with a fake, playful smugness. Mimi laughed.
"Soph and I went so Spain the summer she was 2 and I refreshed my recipe repertoire…" Roger chuckled "With my Aunt Emilina and my Grandma. They own a restaurant out there."
"My own daughter got out of the country before I did." Roger said smiling.
"Mhmm maybe we'll go again soon, get you up to my cooking standards." Mimi gently ran her foot up and down his leg.
"Do you like it there, Spain?"
"I love it. It's nothing like the city. I mean the city is pretty in certain spots but Spain is so mesmerizing. And my whole family lives like on the same street, and the food's amazing, and it's just so much fun there. I spent so many summers there as a kid." Roger nodded.
"Yeah, I remember you told Maureen about I guess your first boyfriend, and he lived over there and one day she got pissed at me and started screaming about how you said all the time that he had been better in bed than me!" Roger said cracking up. Mimi laughed
"Andre Louis Velázquez. Ah." Mimi laughed some more. "I dated him when I was 14 and never had sex with him, what was she talking about?!" She cried. Roger shook his head and continued chuckling. "What was Santa Fe like? Really?" Mimi asked after a few minutes. Roger sighed.
"Nothing like here, but I'm made for here, I belong here."
"Was it pretty?"
"Yeah, the sunsets were amazing, I remember looking at them from my window, um at rehab and thinking, motivating myself, telling myself that when I got out I'd take you to see them." Mimi smiled sweetly at Roger.
"Looks like we've got quite a few vacations to plan." She said. They had finished their food and were pretty much ready to go, just kept on talking until Roger was ready to pay the check.
Roger watched as Mimi began digging through her wallet and then took the right moment to gently knock her coke over and into her lap. She yelped and jumped up.
"I'm so sorry." He said grabbing napkins and wiping off the table and sleep.
"It's fine I'm just gonna go…" Mimi said, pointing to the bathroom.
"Yeah of course." Roger said, he quickly waved over the waitress and paid the bill. Mimi returned. "Sorry bout that."
"It's fine."
"You ready?"
"We have to pay." Roger smirked and Mimi smiled back. "Did you spill that on purpose?" She asked skeptically.
"Maybe. Yeah." He replied.
"Why are you so sweet?" She whispered in his ear as she embraced him.
"Because I love you." He said quietly back, and kissed her cheek. They walked hand in hand back to Mimi's apartment. "We were out for a while." Roger said in shock when he looked at the clock when they got back.
"Ugh yeah Soph will be back in like 10 minutes."
"I guess I should…." Roger began pointing towards the door. Mimi pouted and kissed him passionately, dragging him to the couch and pushing him down. She laid over him as they kissed, making out and she began to un button his top button when there was a knock at the door. She groaned and got up. Roger kissed her forehead one more time and buttoned up his shirt as she opened the door to find Joanne, Maureen and Sophie.
"Mommy!" Sophie cried jumping into her arms.
"Thanks guys." Mimi said. They smiled and waved to Roger.
"No problem, by guys." Joanne said while Maureen winked and gave them a thumbs up as they left and Mimi shut the door.
"Daddy!" Sophie cried running and hugging him.
"Hey kiddo." Roger replied.
"Soph, go to your room and get ready for bed, kay?" Mimi asked. Sophie nodded and skipped to her room.
"See you tomorrow." Roger said, putting a hand on her cheek and kissing her sweetly. She deepened the kiss but they both pulled away at the sound of Sophie going
"Yay! You guys are in looooooooove!" and they began turning towards her bedroom door where Sophie stood with a big smile on her face. Mimi said something in Spanish to her daughter, that brought on a Mo pout and a wave to her Dad before she went back into her room and shut the door.
"I guess we'll have to talk to her." Mimi said. Roger nodded and brought his lips to hers gently before heading out the door.
"Goodnight." He said.
"I love you Roger." Mimi whispered.
"And I love you, never forget Meems." Roger said tightly hugging her, kissing her cheek and walking out the door.
The Next Morning:
Mimi and Sophie had settled down with frozen waffles for breakfast and were now doing a puzzle on the floor when Roger knocked. Sophie continued doing the puzzle while Mimi let him in, dressed in her pajamas. "Hi." She said tiredly.
"Good morning." He said quietly, then kissing her on the cheek.
"Soph, you ready to go sweetie?" Mimi asked.
"Mommy you're not dressed!" Sophie exclaimed.
"I'm not going hon, just you and Dad." Sophie shook her head and ran to Mimi.
"Nooo I want you to come with us!"
"Honey you're gonna have a lot of fun just with your Daddy, I promise."
"NO! I don't want to go with him!" Sophie cried clinging to Mimi.
"Sophie, you're going with Daddy I'm staying here." Mimi said firmly peeling her daughter off of her and giving her to Roger. Sophie tried to escape his arms but he held her tight and whispered to Mimi
"Look if she…"
"No, she's fine she just wants attention. Remember what I said about the giraffes." Mimi warned smiling. Roger grinned back and let his hand graze hers before he headed out the door with a crying blonde little girl in his arms.
"Hey Sophie, stop crying babe." He said. She shook her head. "Well we can't have fun if you're crying, we're supposed to have fun today!"
"Why can't Mommy come?"
"Because Mommy has a lot of stuff to do at home." Roger kissed her cheek and she sighed.
"I want Mommy please." She whispered.
"You don't want me? That makes me kind of sad." Roger replied playfully, even though he really was a little upset about Sophie not wanting to go with him.
"Don't be sad." Sophie said to him.
"Okay, here's the deal we both have got to be happy today, no sad faces." Roger said.
"Okey dokey." Sophie clung to his neck as he carried her to the park. "Swings!" She cried out, climbing out of his arms and running to them. He followed behind her and got behind the swing she was sitting in.
"Ready?" He asked. She nodded and gripped the chains. Roger pulled back and counted backwards "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 blast off!" He let go of the swing and watched it soar. Sophie's blonde hair swiftly swayed back and forth and she squealed of joy. They continued playing for about 15 more minutes on the swing when Sophie asked
"Can I push you on the swing now Daddy?" Roger chuckled
"I might be a little too heavy for you Soph." he said sweetly. Sophie pouted
"Pwetty puh-lease!? Just let me try! Please, please, please, please pl…."
"Okay!" Roger finally exclaimed he sat on the swing and Sophie stood behind him. She put a hand on either side of his back and pushed with all of her might, yet "surprisingly" Roger didn't move. She pouted with frustration and tried a few more times, her eyes looking more determined each time. Roger stifled his laughs.
"Why won't it work!?" Sophie cried. Roger saw upset she was getting and said
"Hm I don't know, why don't you try it again? But here's the deal you give me one big push and then run out of the way okay?" Sophie nodded eagerly and set her hands up on Roger's back again. Roger put his feet on the ground and slightly pulled back, and when his daughter's hands pounded into him he pushed himself into the air, hearing her run out of the way as she squealed with delight.
"I did it I did it!" She cried. Roger put his hand up for a high five and she went to slap it, but like he did the night they met he pulled away. Finally after a fit of giggles she slapped his hand and they headed over to play on the slide and jungle gym. Roger held her stomach as she tried to climb across the monkey bars, and chased around the playground as she laughed. He loved the sound of her laughter. He caught her in his arms and blew raspberries on her cheek.
"Wanna get some ice cream?" he asked she nodded eagerly and they walked to the ice cream store and sat down with their cones. While Sophie ate her soft vanilla with rainbow sprinkles she managed to get a lot of it on her nose. Roger laughed and pulled his new camera from his pocket. "Smile baby girl." He said. She smiled brightly as the flash snapped and then said
"What did I tell you Daddy? I'm a big girl." Roger just smiled at his amazing daughter and then held her hand as he got a cab and they drove over to FAO Schwartz. Sophie ran around the store at lightning speed, examining everything they had and oohing and ahing. She pointed at everything and exclaimed
"This one!" But finally settled on a Barbie puzzle and a stuffed dog who she named "Monkey". "Thank you Daddy!" She said as they walked to the side of the street to get another taxi back to Mimi's house.
"Oh you're welcome Soph. Ready to go home?" Sophie nodded and snuggled up against him in the car. She bounded into Mimi's apartment door saying
"Mommy, Mommy this is Monkey!" pulling the dog out of her bag. Mimi was near the kitchen counter, cooking chicken. She smiled and said.
"Did you have fun honey?" Sophie nodded and Roger walked inside.
"You staying for dinner Roger?" Mimi asked.
"Uh, um I dunno." Mimi laughed
"Well then yes you are." Roger chuckled and went to go help Sophie with her puzzle in the living room. Mimi watched the two of them and smiled, grabbing her camera and silently taking a picture of them. She served dinner and the 3 of them sat down and dug in, Sophie talking in extreme detail about her day with her Dad. Mimi just smiled at how much fun her daughter had seemed to have. "Okay Sophie, it's time for bed." Mimi said as her and Roger began clearing away dishes.
"Nooo!" Sophie wailed.
"Yes, go get ready we'll come in and tuck you in a minute." Sophie pouted and stomped to her room. Once her door was shut Roger kissed Mimi gently. She giggled as they pulled away and quickly piled the dishes in the sink and then headed to Sophie's bedroom. "I think we should talk to her about it now." Mimi said. Roger nodded knowing perfectly what "it" was. Sophie had gotten on her pink pajamas and was laying on her bed on top of the covers waiting for them. "Ready for bed?" Mimi asked, her daughter nodded in response. "Okay but first me and Daddy want to talk to you about something. How would you like it if me and your Daddy got together again." Mimi sighed and kept talking trying to figure the right words out. "If Daddy was my boyfriend…" Mimi tried knowing that her little daughter, the heartbreaker, knew the word all too well. "Maybe Daddy would live with us, would you like that?" Mimi asked. Roger's jaw dropped
"What?" He asked quietly , smiling. Mimi just grinned back at him. "Whoa, whoa wow. Really?" Roger whispered. She nodded at him
"You need an apartment." She replied. Roger just smiled at her and chuckled quietly before whispering
"Thank you." Mimi nodded and looked to Sophie who was smiling broadly. "You'd like that?" Roger asked her. Sophie nodded and shouted
"Yay! Mommy and Daddy sitting in a tree…." Both of her parents laughed, and let her finish the song before Roger bundled the blankets around his small daughter's body and then kissed her cheek.
"Night Sophie. I love you."
"I love you Daddy." She said softly as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
"Sleep tight babe." Mimi said kissing her cheek like Roger.
"I love you Mommy."
"And I love you."
"And you love Daddy?" Sophie asked. Mimi nodded and Sophie smiled and waved as they walked out the door.
"Mimi are you.."
"I want you here Rog."
"You sure?"
"Positive." Roger kissed her deeply.
"I love you." He whispered and before he could say anything he slid down onto his knee, holding her hands and said. "Mimi will you marry me?"
